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0.. B. RICHARDS.

Bearing for Shafts.- No. 241,420. Patented May 10,1881.

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UNITED STATES To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES B. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in Bearings for Shafts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in that class of shaft-bearings which are "composed of three main parts or sections-name1y,

the lower or base section, the upper or cap section, and two opposite side sections which are made adjustable, so as to be set up to the shaft by means of taper keys; and the object of my invention is to prevent the self-tightening of 1 5 these keys and the binding of the opposite side sections too hard against the shaft--an object attained in the manner which I will now'pro ceed to describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in wl1ich Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a side view, partly in section, of my improved bearing; Fig. 2, a plan view, partly in section; Fig. 3, Sheet 2, aside view, partly in section, showing a modification of my invention; Figs. 4 and 5, views showing another modification, and. Fig. 6 a

View of a spring which may be used in carrying myinvention into effect.

In the present instance my improved hearing, as illustrated in the drawings, is adapted to the crank-shaft of a horizontal engine, of which G represents a part of the base-plate constructed to receive the bearing; but the invention may be adopted in the construction of any plumber-blocks or hangers in which bear- 3 5 gigs with adjustable side sections are desira- In Figs. 1 and 2, A is the lower or base section of the bearing, B the upper or cap section, and D D the opposite side sections. The

lower section, A, is fitted snugly in the bottom I in gs too tightly against the shaft.

1 suggest themselves.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES B. RICHARDS, OF PHILADELPHIA, PA., ASSIGNOR TO THE SOUTH- WARK FOUNDRY AND MACHINE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BEARING FORQSHAFTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 241,420, dated May 10, 1881. Application filed March 3i, 1881. (No model.)

the present instance two keys for the adj ustment of each side section of the bearing, as shown in Fig. 2. For depressing each key there is a set-screw, f, passing through the cap H, and provided with ajam-nut, and each key is chain bered for the reception of a spiral spring, w, confined vertically between the end of the chamberin the key and a stationary pin, m, which fits freely in the chamber, and on which the key can slide, the tendency of the spring being to force the key upward and maintain its upper end in contact with the lower end of the set-screw.

In a horizontal steam engine the crankshaft is necessarily caused to bear with great force alternately against each of the opposite side sections of the bearing; hence the taper keys and set-screws by means of which these sections may from time to time be setup; but in using simple taper keys they have a self-tighteni'n g tendency under the influence of the jars to which the bearings are subjected, especially the bearings of rapidly-rotatin g crank-shafts of hi gh-speed engines, and the consequence of this self-depression of the keys is the occasional binding of the side sections of the bear- The springs 7 w are for the purpose of counteracting this self-ti ghtenin g tendency of the keys,the springs having rigidity enough to maintain the keys in contact with the screws and elasticity enough to yield when the tightening of the keys by manipulating the said screws becomes necessary.

a In Fig. 3, Sheet 2, each spring, instead of being contained within a key, surrounds a fixed pin on which the key can slide, and intervenes between the lower edge of the key and the bottom of the recess in the bed-plate,

Other arrangements of springs will readily A bent spring of fiat steel, for instance, as shown in Fig. 6, may be adopted, or counter-weights may be used in place of sprin gs, an example of this kind of connteracting device being shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in which a weighted lever is loosely pivoted to the base-plate below each key, against the under side of which the short arm of the lever 5 bears.

I claim as my invention- In testimony whereof I have signed my name The combination, in a steam-engine frame, to this specification in the presence of two subplumber-block, or hanger, of the side sections, scribing witnesses. D D, of a bearing, taper keys means for ad- CHARLES B. RICHARDS. 5 justing the same, and devices, substantially as Witnesses:

described, for counteracting the self-tighten- JAMES F. TOBIN, ing tendency of the said keys. HARRY SMITH. 

